Browsed byAuthor: wedaair

Whether you’ve recently adopted your cat or you’d like to learn more about caring for them we have some great tips when it comes to cat hygiene.

Exploring, sleeping, eating and being groomed, yes we’re talking about your feline friends cats.. when it come to maintaining their own hygiene cats have a tendency to keep themselves and other cats clean by licking. Referred to as ‘allogrooming” this is a social activity which strengthens the bond between littermates. The objective of licking is that their rough tongues act like hairbrushes, combing out any dirt, fleas or loose hair from their coats to keep it looking purfect.

However, you can rely on your cats own hygiene as there are sever factors that can affect your cats health. So to avoid any catastrophes and nasty infections or other health problems, we have shared some great tips to follow for you to maintain a healthy, happy cat.

Vaccinations
Fleas and worms are two extremely common irritants for cats, but unfortunately there are plenty of treatments available to get rid of them. As well as treating your furry friends for these parasite, its important to keep upto date with other routine vaccinations at your local vets. The recommended vaccinations and boosters by the cats protection are:

Feline infectious enteritis (FIE)

Cat ‘flu –

Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV)

Feline chlamydophilosis

For people with older cats they should be aware of Hyperthyroidism which can kick in from about 12 years of age. The symptoms are increased appetite and weight loss but thankfully it is fairly easy to diagnose.

Oral Hygiene
Keep control of your cats dental hygiene and pay particular attention to any irregular signs such as excessive dribbling, bleeding from the gums or bad breathe. Cats commonly suffer with disorders of the teeth, jaw and mouth and are very good at hiding signs of pain, so it’s vitally important to keep an eye on your cat’s oral health, as its likely to extend and improve the quality of their life.

As your cat gets older, it is even more important to ensure good oral hygiene. Mature cats will need regular check-ups and professional cleaning to avoid being left with decaying teeth which leads to gum disease and other oral infections.

Grooming
Maintain a healthy coat and skin for your cat with bath time. Every cat is different and not all will be open to bathing, but a gentle massage using specialist shampoo will help to maintain and ensure a healthy coat and skin. You’ll first need to brush out any excess hair with a soft comb. This is essential as any excess hair your cat will ingest when grooming itself, could lead to digestion issues and unexpected hairballs lurking around your home.

If you want to ensure your cat is kept clean and healthy then be sure to check out Animology’s range of cat hygiene products which includes, shampoos, sprays and wipes

If you’re a horse owner, you’ll want to do everything possible to promote a long, healthy, well maintained thick tail. Like your horse’s coat, his tail requires some elbow grease , but of a different kind. To help your horse grow a healthy tail we have put together some top tips.

1. Healthy hair comes from the inside out
No amount of potions and conditioners will improve your horse’s coat, mane and tail if he is not receiving proper nutrition. Healthy hair comes from protein, amino acids and vitamins in quality forage and feed.

2. Use grooming tools
Attempting to use human hair brushes will break the hair and pull it out. Use only wide-toothed combs and dandy brushes on the tail so any grooming tolls that are specially designed for manes and tails.

3. Brushing
Brushing a horse’s tail can be controversial, It’s advised not to brush your horses tail. Although it looks nice when it’s brushed out, if you brush it every day, it will gradually get thinner and the more you brush the more hair you may pull out or break. It takes years to re-grow each long strand of hair that is pulled out.

4. Stimulate growth
To stimulate hair growth, brush the dock of your horse’s tail daily with a dandy brush. These brushes are great for removing dust and debris from your horse’s coat and by brushing teh dock and upper part of the tail bone also increases blood flow, which stimulates growth.

5. Is your horse rubbing its tail?
It’s essential to determine why? There are several reasons why a horse will rub their tail. Parasites like lice and pinworms will cause itching, so make sure your horse is on a regular de-worming program. Insects will also cause itching and some horses are more prone to skin reactions caused by insects. Protect your horse from insects by using insect repellents. Horses will also rub their tails in response to irritations around the sheath and anus area. Consult your veterinarian if you suspect this might be the problem.

6. Keep the horse’s tail clean and moisturized
The best way to keep your horse from rubbing it’s tail is to keep it cleaned and moisturized. If your horse is suffering from dry skin and the horse’s tail is dirty, the horse will be prone to rubbing in order to relieve the itching. To ensure you maintain a healthy horse tail, Muck out shampoo by Animology is a formulation of silk and wheat proteins with vitamins and conditioners, to deliver exceptional levels of care and protection to your horses skin and hair, including the mane and tail.

The deep cleaning action penetrates deep down to the skin lifting dust and dirt to the surfaces in order that it can be easily washed away whilst the ‘easy rinse technology’ ensures that the shampoo is rinsed out quickly and efficiently.

7. Refrain from overbrading
Avoid braiding the hair tightly and leaving the braids in all the time. Although they make look pretty, those neat, tight braids can cut off circulation to the hair shafts, which will lead to breakage. Its best to braid long manes and tails loosely to prevent pasture damage, and remove show braids after an event.

When it comes to buying accessories for your dog, it can often be a bit overwhelming. You’ll ask yourself which dog accessories do I actually need?

The key concern is that your dog is comfortable and has everything they need to stay happy and healthy. Over time, once you’ve had your dog for a while you’ll get to know what accessories to style your dog, make them more comfortable or to help with training. The accessories you need completely depend on the type of dog you have and your personal preferences.

Dog accessories are basically any products you can you buy specifically for your dog and often tend to fall into three categories:

Training Accessories

Dog fashion accessories

Accessories to make your dog more comfortable

The above can include anything from dog beds, harnesses to training aids, grooming accessories to clothes, yes that right clothes for your dog.

If your thinking about getting a new puppy, then here’s the key accessories we advise you should get:

Collar and Lead:
The essential dog walking accessories – a collar is essential as you can place an identification tag when your out in public places with your dog, you’ll also require a lead to take your dogs on walks. You can choose a collar and lead to suit your dog, and are available in all colours and sizes. Animology stock a wide range of accessories for dogs that get your dog nice and cosy to be ideal for any dog.

Bed:
Dogs need a place to snuggle up in, so what better than a nice cozy bed, especially during the winter months.

Dog Bowl:
A dog bowl is great for giving your dog food and water. If you have a larger dog its best to elevate the dog bowl above the ground.

Toys:
Keep your dogs occupied by stocking up on a selection of doggy toys. Dog toys also provide your dog with mental stimulation as some toys are specially designed to enable dogs to display some of their natural instincts and behaviours.

Grooming Products:
It’s essential to keep your dogs well groomed on a regular basis, more so those with a longer coat. Some dogs need to have their coat trimmed every few weeks. Essential grooming products include brushes, dog shampoos and nail clippers.

Dog Fashion Accessories:
Spoil your dog with the latest fashion accessories, from jewellery to jackets accessories for dogs have become extremely popular in the last few years, with pet owners going that extra mile to pamper their beloved dogs.

If you’re looking to kit your dog out with some top notch dog accessories then shop online at Animology who provide top quality pet products at affordable prices.

When it comes to sitting in comfort, swivel recliner chairs allows you to relax in style recovering from the strains of the day in the comforting surrounds of your living room or home office.

What are the benefits of using swivel recliner chairs?Swivel recliner chairs have been specially designed to improve posture whilst relieving any aches and pains.

So, how can swivel recliner chars improve your posture?
From slouching in chairs, to not siting correctly, poor posture can trigger all kinds of medical and lifestyle issues, from suffering aches and pains to poor circulation and fatigue, it’s important to acknowledge how we can support our bodies in order to prevent issues from arising.

Without knowing, most will sit in a chair that is simply not right for us, consequently it becomes impossible for us to maintain a perfect posture. If you’re looking for outstanding comfort and a supportive design, then a swivel recliner chair may be the right chair for you.

There are often a number of factors to choosing the best swivel recliner chairs including price, durability, style and overall comfort and type of upholstery from fabric, to leather effect and genuine leather.

If you’re suffering with pain, and looking for outstanding comfort then there’s a possibility that a swivel recliner chair could help improve your posture as well as your quality of life. Complimentary footstools are provided, giving the user added comfort and with the reclining backrest, whilst adding 360° swivel and adjustable positions provides unrivalled support.

If your thinking of investing in a swivel recliner chair then Recliners Direct are one of the UK’s leading recliner chair specialists offering an extensive range of chairs in all fabrics and budgets to suit you. They will provide and help and advice you require in choosing the most suitable chair for your needs.

For people with slight mobility issues then a riser recliner chair is an excellent seating option. Specially designed to assist with arising from a chair, the riser aspect of the chair gently lifts you to your feet when you are ready to stand up, with the push of a button.

Riser recliner chairs are quickly becoming a popular choice by offering a choice of positions to maximise your comfort and allowing you to get into and out of a chair without assistance, to help maintain independent living.

To help you decide if a recliner chair is best for you, ask yourself these questions?…

Have you struggled or often require help getting out of a chair?

Do you find it difficult to sit down?

Do you tend to sit down for long periods in the same chair?

Do you often experience chronic pain and need to change your sitting position to get more comfortable?

If you have answered yes to any of the questions, then you would certainly benefit from using a riser recliner chair:

However, there are a number of other things to consider, such as, do you have enough room for a reclining chair? bearing in mind if you want to fully recline the chair, you’ll need to ensure you have enough space without any obstructions.

It’s also important to consider that if you have a serious medical condition or suffer from serious back problems you’ll want to consider a specialist chair with extra built-in support or one that has pressure-relieving features. If you are unsure then it’s best to seek the advice of an independent adviser to assess your particular needs, before making a decision.

When browsing for a recliner chair you’ll notice you have two options of single motor or dual motor recliner chairs, so what does this mean?

Single Motor:A single motor controls both the backrest and footrest at the same time, so when you recline the backrest, the footrest simultaneously rises to support your legs. These are often less expensive to purchase than a dual motor riser recliner chair.

Dual Motor:Two motors control the chair, with one operating the backrest whilst the other operates the footrest and riser functionality. Each motor features its own set of buttons and provides more flexibility in determining a comfortable position for the user.

As the Uk’s recliner chair specialist Recliners Direct have an extensive range of riser recliner chairs to suit all budgets and mobility.

The expense and complication of buying a replacement boiler is something that many of us can do without. So when the worst happens and your boiler is no longer economically repairable what should you buy and how should you pay for it?

What type of boiler?

Firstly, you’ll need to decide which type of boiler is right for you and your home? For gas boilers, the choice is between a regular boiler or a combi boiler. A regular boiler has a separate hot water cylinder and a combi produces all hot water instantly. Each has their pros and cons and it is largely down to your circumstances on which is best for you. A combi boiler is less efficient in producing hot water than a regular boiler; however, the heat loss from the cylinder can make the combi boiler overall more economical to run in some circumstances.

Larger families who use a lot of hot water are probably best with a regular boiler, whereas smaller households might benefit more from a combi boiler. Space is often a consideration if you don’t have a regular boiler already as you will need to make room for a cylinder. A trained heating engineer can advise you which boiler best suits your situation and size the boiler according to your heating and hot water requirements.

Savings and grants

If your current boiler is an old inefficient boiler (rated D-G) then you could save between £55-320 per year on your energy bills.

Depending on where you live, if you are in receipt of certain benefits, and the condition and age of your boiler you could be entitled to a grant towards the replacement boiler.

Buying it outright

Pros:

Although a new boiler is costly, buying it outright will be cheaper in the long run as there will be no interest applied.

If you have the money the interest you receive from your bank will be less than the interest applied through finance.

Cons:

Purchase with finance

Pros:

Some suppliers also offer discounted boiler insurance covering servicing and repairs when purchasing through finance.

Cons:

You will pay more for the boiler.

If you move home you will still be liable for the repayments.

Which to choose

Your circumstances will probably determine which option is the best for you, whether that is long-term savings or convenient and manageable monthly instalments. Whichever route you choose, shop around and get several quotes to ensure you get the best boiler and most appropriate deal for you. Often the exact same boiler can vary in final cost depending on the lender rates of interest and the pre-interest boiler cost.

Boiler care

Regardless of the method of payment, you may want to consider whether boiler insurance which covers repairs and servicing might be beneficial to ensure your boiler runs efficiently and takes away the worries about repair costs. This would be in addition to the costs of the repayments for your boilers on finance scheme.

Sandblasting is a method of using material at high pressure to clean surfaces. Common materials used for sandblasting include walnut shells, pumice and glass beads. You can choose more abrasive media to clean tougher jobs. Steel grit is a common option for blasting surface in preparation for paint.

A professional sandblasting company will have the understanding and expertise to choose the correct media for your job, so it’s crucial to choose an experienced sandblaster.

Sandblasting offers a number of benefits and has a wide application. Here are just a few reasons to consider sandblasting for your next project.

Restores Rusty Equipment

Sandblasting is perhaps one of the most effective ways to remove rust from your equipment. Rust oxidizes metal and causes damage to the equipment that you depend on for your operation. Whether you own a commercial kitchen or an industrial business, having your equipment sandblasted is an easy and beneficial way to make it look new. This is particularly advantageous if you have food industry equipment that has accumulated rust and needs to be brought back to its original look.

Smooths Surfaces for Painting

If you have a painting project, sandblasting is an efficient method of smoothing the surface so that the paint goes on without rough spots and looks good. This is particularly useful if you’re planning on painting a surface that has accumulated several coats of paint over the years. As you apply more paint to the surface, it’s common to observe bumps and rough spots that make the final job appear less than ideal. Sandblasting is extremely versatile and can prep a wide variety of surfaces so that they are ready to paint.

For example, it’s a great way to prepare a vehicle for a fresh coat of paint if you have a vehicle restoration project.

Blasts Oil and Contaminants

Automotive shops and other business that have equipment that accumulates oil will eventually need a thorough cleaning. Manually cleaning surfaces is a good way to keep your business clean. However, it won’t remove stuck-on oil and grime that has been accumulating over a long period of time. Bringing in a sandblasting team means your equipment will receive a professional sandblasting to remove the oil and contaminants that aren’t lifted through manual cleaning.

It doesn’t require any harsh chemicals and will ensure that precision parts that you rely on are clean and free of dirt and debris.

Non-Toxic and Safe

Many cleaning processes involve several steps and harsh chemicals that are hazardous to breathe and require more preparation to complete properly. Sandblasting, on the other hand, is a power washing technique that utilizes materials that are non-toxic and safe for your equipment and the environment. Industrial quality equipment is strong and can handle sandblasting. You won’t need to worry about your equipment being damaged by the cleaning process or have to deal with extended prep time to ensure that your equipment is safe.

Saves Time

One of the biggest advantages of sandblasting is that it saves time so that your business can remain productive with very little downtime. The particle material quickly blasts away pollutants from surfaces. When completed by a professional sandblasting operation, you’ll enjoy a swift turn around. Depending on the size of the surface, a cleaning job that would take hours to clean manually can be cleaned in a matter of minutes through sandblasting. This is particularly useful if you have a large operation or a lot of equipment that needs cleaning, so if you are after sandblasting in Preston we would recommend New City Sandblasting.

Haven’t you heard darling? Slick Soho office space is so last year. The chicest, most bang-on-trend of office space this season is… wait for it… the humble garden shed.

Shedworking, as it’s affectionately known by fans, actually refers more broadly to working from any edifice in one’s garden: most commonly custom-built garden studios and offices, though renovated sheds are not unknown.

The cult of the shed is becoming quite the social phenomenon. Those rickety wooden slats tucked away in among the brambles and the compost bins have drawn the attention of none other than London’s mecca of museums, the V&A, which ran an exhibition dedicated to National Shed Week earlier this year. There’s been a whole coffee-table book devoted to shedworking, aptly titled Shedworking.

We wanted to find out what all the fuss is about – and look at whether shedworking is something all you homeworkers and prospective homeworkers should be considering, as an alternative to shoehorning your business into an overcrowded study.

Shedworking – why it works

In the last few years we have seen the number of specialists selling garden offices go up from five or six to more like 20 to 25. This is due to two factors; the recession and the general trend of more people working from home, and being able to work there now thanks to increasing speeds of broadband internet.

But it’s not just these two factors driving people to the more remote corners of their landholding. Shedworking, with all the peaceful isolation it brings, frees you from two of the worst culprits of unproductive in-house working: noise and distraction, in all their deviant forms. It’s also much less hassle on a day-to-day basis if you’re currently space-sharing – i.e. having to hurriedly shove your work-things to one side of the kitchen every time a meal is served.

There’s a more subtle element at play for shedworking devotees too: “You’re psychologically starting the day [when you go there] – it’s like going to the office,” Johnson explains. Except you get to bypass the sweaty, arduous, face-in-stranger’s-armpit commute – and all the time that normally takes. “You just get a better work-life balance. It feels healthier,” Johnson smiles.

And you can tailor and personalise your working environment precisely to your tastes. Which can be quite a blessing, as anyone who’s ever had a domestic over wall colours knows.

The nitty-gritty

Having your workspace in the garden isn’t necessarily a cheap option, but it’s more cost-effective than getting an extension or conservatory built: fully fitted-out garden studios start at around £3,000. Not every business has that kind of cash handy, of course, so the investment hinges on how long-term you think you’ll need it for – and whether you really do need it.

On the plus side, a good garden studio can add up to 5% to the value of your property, and works well as a selling point in competitive markets. And a few thousand pounds is still considerably cheaper than renting office or workshop space in many cases.

You need to follow some planning regulations too. Your studio has to be at least 5m away from your house, and if it’s taller than 2.5m you need planning permission (which normally takes about eight weeks to come through). It’s not allowed to take up more than 50% of your garden either. It’s worth talking to your planning authority just to be on the safe side – if you’re in a conservation area or your house is a listed property you definitely need to.

Shedworking – how to get it right

It is possible to convert an existing shed into a home office, but by the time you’ve factored in heating, security, insulation and cleared the whole thing out and refitted it again, you might as well have invested in a new one. (Although you could get away with it if you only need to work there in the summer and aren’t keeping any expensive equipment in there.)

You can buy a studio from a DIY centre and build and fit it out yourself for as little as a few hundred pounds if you’re clever about it, going up to a couple of thousand the flashier you get. Ask staff in Homebase or B&Q for advice. Be warned that things like electrics and heating can get complex – and if you haven’t had experience wiring things up before you’ll be safer leaving it to the pros.

If you do go with a professional garden studio company, expect to pay £4,000 – £10,000 for a basic model. That will include a door with a sturdy lock, double glazing, heating, electrical sockets, and proper flooring – so it really is a mini office. Prices go up to more like £35,000 – £40,000 if you want a shower, kitchen or mezzanine level.

Upping your budget can also afford you more contemporary designs, though you can find more affordable cutting edge studios.

You may need a concrete foundation laid for your studio, which is normally £2,000 – £3,000, although with some companies the studios have been designed specifically to side-step that requirement. The type of soil you’re on shouldn’t make any difference or cause problems.

The electrics running between your studio and house need to be done by an electrician, and don’t usually come as standard with the studio build. Ask for what’s called the ‘armoured cable’ (it’s a legal requirement to have that type) to go above ground rather than underground to cut costs.

Phone lines and broadband will depend on your service providers and wiring set-up, as will costs for connecting your home with your studio. You need to work out whether you want a separate phone line – and figure out all of this well in advance of purchasing a studio. Consider devices such as a Wi-Fi booster for internet connection.

Decoration is in the eye of the beholder, but keep an eye out for space-saving and fold-up furniture if you’re tight on square metres. Any built-in insulation should combat external noise, but soft furnishing will help too if you expect it to be a problem. If you’d like a garden office, Outdoor Living Rooms offers a great selection.

Sliding sash windows originated in Europe in the 13th Century however calling them windows was perhaps a bit of a stretch as in this period they were no more than vertical sliding wooden shutters. 300 years later, by the end of the sixteenth century they had evolved into a form we would recognise today as a beautiful traditional timber sash window.

The original windows of this period consisted only of vertical shutters with sliding timber. 16th Century sash windows were also glazed and were able to slide horizontally. It was around the mid 17th Century that the original design was superseded in France, with the French introducing vertical sliding sash windows. It has been noted that these windows were safer to use in staircases and passageways, as opposed to the casement windows that open inwards and could cause impediment to the residents of a building.

It is believed that throughout the post restoration age after the aristocracy returned from France, that the sophisticated style of the upright sliding sash window moved across the Channel towards England. The Queen Mother, Henrietta Maria, was believed to receive the first installation of a fully glazed vertical sliding window. This is believed to have occurred after she returned from France along with her staff, of which there were French joiners, and this influenced the refurbishment to the London based Somerset House. Years later, it was Ventrolla who renovated these very windows.

The improvement to the sash windows, including the introduction of the counterbalance, cannot be pinpointed to a particular time exactly and there are many theories about this. Some believe it was first invented in England, where it progressed from the inventive vertical slider, into one that was glazed with 250mm x 250mm glass. With the addition of the solid glazing bars (40mm or more), the windows were extremely heavy and difficult to open.

The counter balance feature was believed to have been initially used for doors and this is supported by the documented evidence “Office of Works Account 1663”. It revealed that lines and weights were fitted to different doors in the buildings at Whitehall. It didn’t take long for this system to transfer over to include its use in sash windows. The documented evidence also reveals that Thomas Kinward, Master Joiner, made changes to the sash windows of the Queen’s private apartment, by installing pulleys and lines to the sash windows in 1669, at Whitehall, although no specific mention of any counter weights has been noted.

The sash windows that were installed to the property belonging to the Duke and Duchess of Lauderdale, Ham House in London, showed confirmation that the windows were in fact, counter balanced. This installation occurred in 1672, and it was again, Thomas Kinward and Christopher Wren that placed their signatures on the accounts.

There was never any claim made to the invention of the counter balance system and there is no record of it ever having been patented. In the early development of sash windows with weights, the windows were framed by solid oak and there was a groove that had been cut to accommodate the weights. The top sash would not open and was in a fixed position, and it was only the bottom sash that opened. A short time later, there was a new development called the boxed frame. This frame was sectioned and its purpose was to hide the weights and enable them to go past each other easily.

New developments now showed that there were less panes and thinner glazing bars. When the duty on glass was removed in 1845, the price of the glass fell dramatically, and then the panes developed into larger panels, and the windows only contained two panes per sash. It differentiated the wealthy from the poor, to only have a single pane for each sash! Extra support for the glass came in mid 19th Century, when horns were introduced.

The Great Fire of London which started at the bakery of Thomas Farriner on Pudding Lane in 1666 played a surprising role in sash window design. Building regulations were drastically overhauled after the devastation in the hope of reducing the risk of fire and its rapid spread through the city.

One such regulation stipulated that timber window frames should be recessed behind the outside stone or brick facade, leading to the development of Georgian architecture which is widely held to be the most beautiful period of design.

It wasn’t just fire that pushed forward the sash windows evolution. Fashion and vanity played their part. In the space of 50 years from 1696 the Window tax and Glass tax were both introduced. The glass tax stopped anyone other than the very rich from having large panes and so the trend for multiple small panes of glass remained. A sign of wealth was to have large windows with a single pane of glass per sash!

As glass production technology advanced and the various taxes repealed, larger panes became available to everyone, this in itself lead to one of the most recognisable features of a Sash Window, the “horns”.

As the panes became larger and heavier the frame needed extra support and so sash horns started to appear at the corners to reinforce the widows. The horns were often carved in unique styles and have become one of the hallmarks of a traditional timber sash window.

Lancashire Sash Windows have been involved in the renovation and performance upgrade of many sliding sash windows ever since, earning themselves a place in modern history as the leading authority and market leader in the renovating of original sash windows.

A quartz or granite worktop makes a show-stopping addition to your home. But, as part of your kitchen design, there are a number of additional features you can include to enhance the final appearance of your worktops and make them really stand out!

Here are just some of the extras you might want to include to add wow-factor (and practicality) to your kitchen design.

1. Drainer grooves

Drainer grooves make a stunning addition to a stone worktop. Just as important, they stop water creeping along the counter top, and prevent everything (including your floor) from getting wet. Because quartz is non-porous, it’s a fantastic material for drainer grooves.

2. Kitchen islands

When it comes to hangout spots, nothing beats a kitchen island. From grand workstations with additional appliances to petite counters that can be used for much-needed storage, the multifunctional nature of islands means they never go out of style or demand.

3. Breakfast bar

Breakfast bars are a great social focus in the kitchen and are perfect for creating family orientated spaces. It’s no wonder, therefore, that more and more of our customers want one!

4. Curved corners

Curved units are becoming increasingly popular in today’s kitchen design. Not only do they look great, but they also provide a softer edge and safe finish, especially where young children concerned.

5. Undermount sinks

Undermount sinks give a distinctive, stylish look, making it perfect for the modern-day kitchen.

Helping you to choose wisely when making an investment in quartz or granite worktops that will change the appearance of your kitchen, at Granite Tops UK we take care of the whole process for you.